States petition US FDA on generic insulin, hormone

[Celebration]

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=2006-08-03T182922Z_01_N03255507_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-FDA-GENERICS.XML

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Four governors, looking to ease drug costs under state programs, petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday to provide guidelines for generic versions of insulin and human growth hormone.

The FDA has been developing regulatory advice for companies who want to make cheaper copycat versions of the injectable drugs since 2001, but recently delayed issuing final guidelines.

In their petition, the governors joined other critics in accusing the agency of dragging its feet.

"We have been informed that there are no scientific reasons for delaying the issuance of the guidance documents FDA already has drafted," the bipartisan group of governors wrote the FDA.

Gee, what a surprise.

[elehhhhna]

1. Insulin I understand, but whats' the impetus for producing more HGH?

What's its use? Is it commonly prescribed?